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MEMORIAL y, j 



OF 



CAPTAIN CHARLES COCHRANE, 

A BRITISH OFFICER IN THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR, 

1774-1781. 



BY 



MELLEN CHAMBERLAIN. 



MEMORIAL 



OF 



CAPTAIN CHARLES COCHRANE 



A BRITISH OFFICER IN THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR, 



1774-1781. 



BY 



/ 

MELLEN CHAMBERLAIN. 



[Reprinted from the Proceedings of the Massachusetts Historical 
Society, Mat, 1891.] 



CAMBRIDGE; 

JOHN WILSON AND SON. 

SKntoersttp $ress 

1891. 



c 



CAPTAIN COCHRANE'S MEMORIAL. 



At a meeting of the Massachusetts Historical Society, 
May 14, 1891, the Hon. Mellen Chamberlain said that 
within a few years there had come to light much interesting 
and some historically important information respecting a 
group of young men who followed the British flag to Boston 
in the summer of 1774, in the attempt by the mother country 
to reduce the colonies to imperial subjection. 

The first was a series of letters written from Boston or 
New York, in 1774-1776, by Capt. W. Glanville Evelyn, a 
copy of which is in the library. Captain Evelyn, of the 
same family as the author of " Sylva," was in the famous 
Fourth Regiment, " The King's Own," and participated in 
the affairs at Lexington and Bunker Hill. He was mortally 
wounded in the skirmish at Throg's Neck, Oct. 18, 1776, 
and died November 6. Captain Cochrane was one of the 
executors of his will. 

Of similar interest was a collection of original letters of 
Lord Percy written about the same time, and now in the 
Boston Public Library. 

But the most valuable was a memorial of his military career 
prepared by Capt. Charles Cochrane, who was with the main 
army from its arrival at Boston, in 1774, or with Clinton or 
Cornwallis in their Southern campaigns, till his death at York- 
town, Oct. 17, 1781. 

Captain Cochrane was of the Scottish family of that name, 
in which was the Earldom of Dundonald, whose personal his- 
tories filled some space in the public eye in the fifty years 
included in the last quarter of the eighteenth and the first 
quarter of the nineteenth century. He was the next younger 
brother of Archibald, the ninth Earl of Dundonald, who after 



some service in the army and navy succeeded to the earldom 
on the death of his father, in 1778, and thereafter gave his 
attention to scientific pursuits, in which he made some dis- 
coveries more profitable to his country than to himself, and 
died in poverty, July 1, 1831. 

Captain Cochrane's youngest brother, Sir Alexander For- 
rester Inglis, K. C. B., Admiral of the Blue in 1819, gained great 
distinction with Rodney in the West Indies, and with Lord 
Keith and Sir Ralph Allen in Egypt in 1801. He was un- 
pleasantly known in America as commander of the British 
fleet about Chesapeake Bay in the War of 1812, and he assisted 
the land forces in the attack on New Orleans in 1815. 

Other members of the family became known in various fields 
of activity, but none more so than Captain Cochrane's nephew, 
Thomas, Lord Cochrane, the tenth Earl of Dundonald, whose 
long and varied career in Europe and in South America needs 
no recital here. 

Hon. Charles Cochrane, whose memorial will be presently laid 
before the Societ}', was born Jan. 23, 1749. He was an ensign 
in the Twenty -fifth Regiment for six years ; and for the same 
time, from 1768, a lieutenant in the Seventh Regiment of Foot. 
On April 17, 1774, he embarked for Boston as the young- 
est captain in "The King's Own," — Captain Evelyn, above 
mentioned, being the next older. It was a detachment of this 
regiment that, on the request of the loyalists of Plymouth 
County, was sent to Marshfield, Jan. 23, 1775, to protect the 
members of the " Loyal Association," in the formation of 
which Timothy Ruggles took a prominent part. The detach- 
ment was recalled to Boston soon after the hostilities at Lex- 
ington. Captain Cochrane's services between 1774 and his 
death in October, 1781, are fully set forth in the account which 
he gives of them in the following memorial. 

Captain Cochrane's memorial, which is without date, address, 
signature, or heading, appears to be an office copy of the origi- 
nal made for the head of the department to which the sub- 
ject of it belonged, and in this case presumably, Lord George 
Germaine. 

In the beginning of 1774 Capt. Cochrane purchased a company, and 
went abroad to America as Captain in the 4 th Regiment. 

He was employed by Lord Percy as one of the officers he sent privately 
the evening before the affair of Lexington upon a very trying service. 



and during the following day Captain Cochrane had much to do in as- 
sisting his father in law Major Pitcairn, who was after killed in the 
action of Bunker's Hill. 

Captain Cochrane was then appointed to the Grenadier Company 
upon Capt. West being wounded and going to England. 1 

On the 29'!' Aug' 1776, having the oldest company of Grenadiers in 
the army and consequently being on the right of that corps, he was so 
situated as to endeavour to take an active part. His company went 
particularly close to the rebel lines, and were with difficulty restrained 
from being in them. 2 

Until the 28 th Sep r , the affair of White Plains, he continued to serve 
in the Grenadiers. Capt. West returning about that time from England, 
and Capt. Evelyn of the Light Infantry being killed, he resigned the 
Grenadiers to their former captain, and took the command of the va- 
cant Light Company, which he had the honor to command from that 
time until the embarkation of the 4'! 1 Regiment for the West Indies in 
1778. 

His company was present on every service, and the active part they 
ever took in the moment of action is known to his superior officers and 
coetemporarys. 

After many losses during the winter's tluty at Brunswick in 1778 his 
company in the action at Brandy wine lost an officer and 11 men in 
forcing that part of the rebel line where their five field pieces were. 

In the action of Germantown he lost an officer and 5 men ; during 
this day being joined by the 42' 1 Light Compauy and half of the 17'!', 
he had the fortune to meet the 9 th Virginia Regiment which had pene- 
trated through the British line, and were pillaging the wigwams of the 
4 1 ! 1 & 42? Light Companies when they were attacked and totally de- 
stroyed by the above two companies and a half. 3 

This campaign his company had 2 officers & 22 men killed or 
wounded. 

At Philadelphia in 1778, having been six years an ensign, six a lieu- 
tenant, and near five a captain, 

He memorialed Sir William Howe to be permitted to purchase (if 
no senior captain in the regiment would) the majority of the 4'. h Reg- 

1 He was wounded at Bunker Hill, June 17. 

-' Captain Evelyn's account of this affair is as follows : " The next day, a few 
companies of Light Infantry were prompted to attack a party of the rebels, and 
with more ardour than discretion, pushed them to their very lines, where they 
were supported by their cannon." — Letters, p. 85. 

3 "The Americans attacked this post on the morning of the 4th October, and 
drove in the piquets of the right wing. The Fourth were moved forward to sup- 
port the light infantry, and the assault was sustained with such determined bra- 
very, that the enemy could make no impression at this point of attack." — His- 
torical Record of the Fourth Regiment, p. 70. 



6 

iment, expected soon to be vacant by the intended promotion of Major 
Balfour to the Lieut. Colonelcy of the 23? Regim* 

Captain Cochrane had not the happiness to be permitted, and Sir 
James Murray rather, — an older captain, but not near so long in the 
service, — was put over his head as Major into the 4 th Regiment. 

Hurt by his want of success or interest to effectuate his preferment, 
and desirous to obtain it in any way, he soon after consented to ex- 
change his company for a lieutenancy in the I s ' Guards, an exchange 
which has been attended with much expence to him, and was permitted 
to serve in America as Major of the British Legion which Sir Henry 
Clinton had about that time honoured him with. 

In this corps he has continued to serve ever since, particularly 
inspecting the infantry of it. 

He was the first who introduced into the army the species of service 
of mounted light infantry, a kind of corps theretofore unknown, though 
the subsequent advantages have been found from much experience to 
answer the fullest expectations. 

The cavalry and infantry of the Legion has ever mooved together, 
and have gone with confidence any distance from the main army when 
mutually supporting one another. 

Zealous for the honor of the corps and to promote the service, the 
infantry have chearfully often rode eighty miles in twenty four hours 
without either bridle or saddle, and only a blanket and piece of rope 
substituted as bridle, assisting their cavalry to surprize and beat the 
enemy. 

With confidence Capt. Cochrane may say that no cavalry can or has 
acted in America until the co-operation of mounted infantry was in- 
troduced with them, and that upon every occasion the infantry of the 
Legion have bore an ample share of either fatigue or honor in all ac- 
tions since the formation of the corps, which the following extracts 
from public orders and instances of their conduct will testify. 

Charles Town, 12* May, 1780. 

Copy of Sir Henry Clinton's thanks to the army, and particularly to 
Lieutenant Colonel Tarleton and the corps of cavalry. 

And to the infantry of the Legion for their soldierlike conduct and gal- 
lantry which gives them such brilliant advantage over the enemy. 

Campden, June l* 1 

Orders. Lord Cornwallis desires that Lieut. Colonel Tarleton, Major 
Cochrane, and the officers and soldiers of the Legion and detachment serv- 
ing with them, will accept of his warmest acknowledgments for the splen- 
did services they have rendered their country by the gallant action of the 
29 th of May. 



The rapidity of their march and the vigour of their attack will ever 
reflect the highest honour on them, the brilliant success -will be a memora- 
ble proof of the undaunted courage of the soldiers, and the distinguished 
abilities of the officers by whom they were commanded. 1 

In February, 1779, the infantry had the pleasure to execute Sir 
William Erskine's orders with success in protecting some government 
vessells at Sagg Harbour when attacked by a formidable rebel fleet, and 
even took from them a new continental brig of sixteen six pounders, 
which is now a sloop of war in his Majesty's service. 

In the surprize of the rebel Dragoons at Monk's Corner this cam- 
paign, by dismounting the infantry when in the village, we were en- 
abled to attack the rebels when they defended their houses at niorht, 
and pursue those who attempted to escape. 

Major Vernier of the rebel Legion and many others suffered from 
this sort of service. 

During the blockade of Charlestown a number of sloops and schoon- 
ers having been taken on the Wardoo River by the Legion infantry, 
with the approbation of the Commander in Chief, they fitted these ves- 
sels up with 18 pounders and manned them, and were the means of 
compleating the difficulties thrown in the way of the rebels escaping by 
Cooper or Wardoo Rivers. 

In the action of Lenew's Ferry the 6 tfl of May, where Lieut* Colonel 
Tarleton (as he has ever done) gained much honorable advantage over 
the rebels, the mounted infantry were up, and pursued the rebel Dra- 
goons into the swamp, destroying many of them in it, and the Santee 
River. 

After the surrender of Charlestown a large body of rebels were en- 
deavouring to retire by the back parts of the Province, and being far 
ahead of Lord Cornwallis's corps, his Lordship the 27'f 1 of May de- 
tached Lieut* Colonel Tarleton & Major Cochrane with the cavalry 
and infantry of the Legion with directions to harrass and impede their 
retreat as much as possible. 

The infantry, though not half mounted, then got all to Campden in 
two days, which is 60 miles, and it being necessary to push the rebels 
without loss of time, Colonel Beaufort having got three days march 
a head, the whole corps moved at 2 o'clock the following morning, 
though two companies were not then compleated with horses, they 
were however mounted before they marched 20 miles, and except the 

1 Captain Cochrane's statement is confirmed by General Greene in a letter to 
General Steuben, Feb. 15, 1781 : " Cornwallis's movements are so rapid, that few 
or no militia join us. He marches from 20 to 30 miles in a day ; and is organized 
to move with the same facility as a light infantry corps. Should lie continue to 
push us, we must be finally ruined without reinforcements." — Gordon, vol. iv. 
n- 46. 



guard left with their 3 pounders the infantry of the Legion were for- 
tunately up at the moment of attacking the rebels at Waxaw. 

Their conduct on this occasion, and the part they contributed towards 
the success of the day was as much as men could do. 

The advantages resulting from having infantry up will appear from 
the opinions and conduct of the rebel officers at the commencement of 
this action. 

While Capt. Cochrane was dismounting and forming the infantry op- 
posite the rebel centre, he heard a rebel officer upon the right call to 
his men, — 

" Be cool and take care what they were about, that it was only a few 
light horse, aud they would give a good account of them." 

He was answered by another officer upon the left : — 

" He was mistaken, he was mistaken ; do you see here, there is 
infantry." 

On this occasion the infantry never fired a shot, but used their bay- 
onets, and had two valuable officers killed. 

By Capt. Ross, Lord Cornwallis's aid de camp, he is informed, on 
every occasion since Capt. Cochrane quitted them they have behaved 
with equal spirit. 

The very considerable loss they have sustained this campaign in offi- 
cers will testify the particular share they have had in every enterprize, 
having from the 29 th of May had 1 capt. 3 lieut ts killed & 2 lieut ts 
wounded, making near half the loss of the whole army employed there. 

After the action at Waxaw the campaign not being expected to com- 
mence again before the month of October or November, as Capt. 
Cochrane had not been in England for near seven years and having a 
family there to attend to, he thought the then respite a favorable oppor- 
tunity to visit them, intending to return to America as soon as he could 
settle his private affairs, which it became necessary for him to attend 
to, having his father in law Major Pitcairn killed in America, and his 
father Lord Dundonald dead at home since his serving in that country. 

He therefore made application to Lord Cornwallis at Campden for 
his permission to go to England, and was honored with the annexed 
testimony of his Lordships approbation. 

Campden, June 10* 1780. 
Dear Sir, — I cannot let you go from hence without expressing the 
very sincere regret I feel at your leaving my corps, and assuring you that 
on any future occasion I shall be happy in serving with so able and spirited 
an officer. I heartily wish you a prosperous voyage, and a happy meeting 
with your family, and am with great regard. 

Your most obedient and faithful servant, 

Cornwallis. 
Honble Majok Cochrane. 



Capt. Cochrane repaired to New York, where he was further favored 
with the Commander in Chief's permission and confidence, and was 
entrusted with his Excellency's dispatches for Government with which 
he was endeavouring to get to England in a small schooner of his 
own, when attacked at sea the 16 1 ! 1 of August by three rebel privateers ; 
he only then saved himself by securing the men sent to board his 
schooner and sinking their boats, after delivering the prisoners he had 
taken at New York ; in proceeding up the Sound he was again attacked 
by two rebel privateers from New England shore, and after a resist- 
ance of near 3 hours within sight of a British man of war and not more 
than a league from her, was obliged to abandon his schooner and swim 
a shore to save his dispatches, leaving every other thing. 

Capt. Cochrane has been now upwards of eighteen years in the army, 
has hardly ever been absent from his regiment or service during that 
time. 

He has purchased every commission, and what he at present holds 
has been attended with particular expense to him. 

Almost every cotemporary has acquired the rank of lieutenant colonel 
before him, the only rank which gives an officer a chance of command 
and an opportunity of exerting himself when fit for service. 

He humbly hopes your Lordship will be pleased to take his services 
and case into consideration and grant him the honor of your Lordship's 
countenance in obtaining advancement in his profession. 

Proposals by the Honorable Captain Cochrane for raising a new Corps 

in America. 

Captain Cochrane has been in the army upwards of eighteen years, 
during which time he has hardly ever been absent from his duty or 
service, and has acted for some years past as Major of the British 
Legion in America. 

Before his departure from New York, Sir Henry Clinton was pleased 
to express a desire of serving Captain Cochrane. He therefore solicited 
his Excellency's countenance to his raising a new corps or second 
batallion to the British Legion. 

Sir Henry Clinton was pleased to signify his approbation, and to 
say, that if it hereafter takes place he wishes to annex to whatever 
corps Captain Cochrane raises a body of men to the number of 
300^ who shall be ready to man the flat boats for transporting the 
army, the armed vessells for covering their landing or guarding 
the inland navigation and carry intelligence from one Province to 
another. 

His Excellency was pleased to refer Captain Cochrane to General 
Dalrymple, who would digest such a proposal for the good of the 
service. 



10 

The following advantages might be expected to attend such an 
establishment. 

It will bring into our service a number of maritime and other people 
who have heretofore been averse to take the ostensible part of fight- 
ing with us, yet will be ready to contribute their service in this less 
conspicious line. 

If attention is given to withdraw from the enemy their artificers of 
every denomination and provide for them in this corps, it will act in a 
double proportion in our favor by getting what we deprive them of. 

Many, good consequences may be expected from such encourage- 
ment, and by arranging them according to their abilities or zeal they 
will render essential service to Government on very reasonable terms. 
If employed when not on other duties in building boats and armed 
vessels for the use of the service, and manning those vessels with the 
dependants of the corps whose inclinations and turn lead them to 
commence actively for us, we may induce many who as yet have kept 
back from acting for us, to begin by degrees and adopt more active 
sentiments, and latterly afford the fullest exertions in their power. 

Such an establishment will point out a rendevouse to all unem- 
ployed adherents who do not contribute their services in the field ; 
numbers must come to it for employment, and the produce of their 
labour (which will not cost Government the third of the present 
expence) will soon raise a powerful fleet of cruizers which will benefit 
those employed in them, distress our enemies, and protect our own 
trade. 

Such 300 men to be enlisted and disciplined upon the same footing 
as the other part of the corps are, with this difference that when 
employed in working they shall receive double subsistance. 

The knowledge Captain Cochrane has of the people and country, 
the attention he has paid to study those who compose the army and 
turn them to the best advantage for the service, and his own attach- 
ment for the possession induce him to hope, if intrusted with the con- 
ducting this new appointment, either according to the above idea or on 
any similar one which it may please Government to adopt. 

That if honored with the command and rank of Lieutenant Colonel 
in the army he will execute it to the advantage of Government and 
his own credit. 

The following Proposals are made of increasing the strength of the 
British Legion now in America with very little expence to Govern- 
ment. If the corps is put on the British Establishment, and the 
officers in it admitted to reap the same honor and advantage from 
their profession as the new levies at home have. 

The present establishment of the Legion is 1 Lieu' Colonel and 2 
Majors, with 5 Troops of Cavalry, and 6 Companys of Infantry. 



11 



It is proposed to form now 6 Troops of Cavalry, and 8 Companys of 
Infantry, with 1 Lieut 1 Colonel and 1 Major to the Cavalry and 1 
Lieut 1 Colonel and 1 Major to the Infantry. — To be under the com- 
mand of Lieut! Colonel Tarleton or Senior Officer. 



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i — 1 — 1 — 1 — 1 — 24 — 24 — 16 — 562 



2 — 2 — 14 — 14 — 14 — 2 — 2 — 2 — 2 — 42 — 42 — 28 — 1000 



If Government are pleased to adopt this establishment for the Corps, 

The friends of Lieutenant Colonel Tarleton and Major Cochrane 
will immediately raise a body of men for the purpose of recruiting and 
strengthening the British Legion in America. 

They shall be ready to join the Corps as soon as the new appointments 
preparing for them can be got ready to send out to America. 

They [the] high estimation the services of the Legion have placed 
them in, with the exertions of Lieu!-Colonel Tarleton's and Major 
Cochrane's friends within the circle of their influence, induce them to 
offer to raise a body of 300 d men who shall immediately join the Legion 
in America. 

If they are permitted to get the rank of Lieut.'- Colonel in the Army 
— and to the Legion may be annexed that body of men for manning 
the boats, vessels, &c, as proposed by Major Cochrane, who will under- 
take the conduction of it. 

The Memorial is without date, but must have been written 
later than August 16, 1780 ; but whether written in England or 
in America, or who his Lordship was to whom it was addressed, 
does not appear. Captain Cochrane had obtained leave of 
absence to visit England ; and it is quite probable that he did 
so in 1780-81, and that on his return he brought his wife with 
him to New York. 

In October, 1781, Captain Cochrane was sent with de- 
spatches from Sir Henry Clinton, then in New York, to Lord 
Cornvvallis, then besieged at Yorktown. He went in a vessel 
to the Capes, where he got into an open boat, in which he 



12 

passed undiscovered through the middle of the French fleet, 
and arrived at Yorktown 10th October. Lord Cornwallis, in 
testimony of his approbation of that intrepid conduct, appointed 
Major Cochrane to act as one of his aides-de-camp, October 16 ; 
bnt the next day his head was taken off by a cannon-ball, the 
day before the surrender, Oct. 18, 1781, in the thirty-third year 
of his age. 

A different account says : — 

" Another marked casualty of the siege was the death of Major Coch- 
rane, who arrived at Yorktown on the 10th of October, with despatches 
from Clinton to Cornwallis. Two days after, in company with the 
British General, he went to the lines, and fired one of the guns him- 
self; but as he looked over the parapet to see its effect in ricochet, a 
ball from the American works carried away his head, narrowly missing 
Cornwallis, who was standing by his side." 1 

An extract from a letter of Captain Mure to Andrew Stuart, 
dated Yorktown, Oct. 21, 1781, says : — 

" I am sorry to be obliged to tell you that your nephew, Major Coch- 
rane, suffered among those killed. He had his head carried off by a 
cannon-shot when standing close to my Lord Cornwallis. He came two 
days before, in a most spirited manner, with despatches from the Com- 
mander-in-Chief, in a small boat, and got through the French fleet ; he 
is much lamented as a most gallant officer. I pity poor Mrs. Cochrane, 
who, I hear, is at New York." 2 

Major Cochrane was the only field officer of the British 
army who was killed at Yorktown*. 



NOTE. 

Major Cochrane was of the same family as Sir John Cochrane, who 
was with Argyle in the Monmouth rising, and escaped with his life 
only by his father, Lord Dundonald, offering a bribe of £5,000. 
(Macaulay, Hist. Eng., vol. i. p. 515.) 

The earliest contemporaneous mention of Captain Cochrane in Amer- 
ica which I have noticed is found in the Diary of Ezekiel Price, June 
22, 1775: "Captain Wakeman told me he had just come from Cam- 

1 Johnston's The Yorktown Campaign, 1781, p. 138. 

- Mahon's History of England, vol. vii. appendix xxxviii. 



13 

bridge, where he saw Captain Cochran, who came out of Boston in a 
fishing-boat yesterday morning, by whom he was informed that the 
regulars had killed and wounded in the last engagement [at Bunker 
Hill] fourteen hundred men." (Proc. Mass. Hist. Soc, vol. vii. p. 192.) 

The following entries are taken from the original Orderly Book 
of Lord Cornwallis, 1781, belonging to the Boston Public Library: — 

" Oct. 12. 1781 the Hon. Maj. Cochrane is appointed to take the 
command of all persons in the garrison who do not belong to regiments, 
navy, or transports." 

"16 Oct. 1781. The Honorable Major Cochrane to be obeyed as 
Aid de Camp to Lord Cornwallis." 

Captain Cochrane left New York, October 3, with a duplicate of 
Clinton's despatch (September 30) to Cornwallis, which, if we may 
trust a memorandum on it, was " Received, October 10, from Major 
Cochran." (The Clinton-Cornwallis Controversy, ed. 1888, vol. ii. 
p. 173.) This bears on a question between these generals as to the 
time when the latter received certain intelligence by letter from the 
former. Clinton says : " The four other letters taken notice of by 
Lord Cornwallis were not delivered to him before November, because 
the three first [for reasons which need not be stated here] and the last 
(the substance of which, however, had been previously communicated 
in the presence of a council of war for his Lordship's information to 
Major Cockran [sic], who joined him on the 9th of October), being 
sent by advice boat, did not reach the Chesapeake before his surrender." 
(Ibid. i. 101.) 



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